Control for combination dry and steam flatiron



July 24, 1956 N. HERMAN CONTROL FOR COMBINATION DRY AND STEAM FLATIRON Filed Aug. 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor": Neil HePman,

His Attohnea.

July 24, 1956 HERMAN 2,755,574

CONTROL FOR COMBINATION DRY AND STEM FLATIRON Filed Aug. 30, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor: Neil Herman,

His Attorneg.

United States Patent CONTROL FOR COMBINATION DRY AND STEAM FLATIRON Neil Herman, Pomona, Calif., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 30, 1954, Serial No. 452,911

11 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) The present invention relates to control arrangements for combination dry and steam flatirons for regulating the temperature setting thermostat of the flatiron for dry ironing and regulating both the temperature setting thermostat and the water supply valve for steam ironing.

The present application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 326,381, now abandoned, filed December 16, 1952, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved structure and arrangement wherein control levers for both the thermostat and the water valve are located at the forward upper end of the flatiron handle where they are accessible for convenient operation, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

ln the drawing,

Fig. l is a side view partly in section of a flatiron having control mechanism embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on a scale larger than that of Fig. 1 showing certain of the control parts.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail perspective views of certain parts of the mechanism.

Pig. 7 is a side view, partly in section of a modification.

Referring to the drawing, the body of the flatiron comprises a solepiate 1 and an outer shell 2. Attached to the shell by suitable means (not shown) is a handle 3 which is characterized by having a front post 4 which is hollow or tubular, being defined by a rounded front wall 5 and a top wall 6. In the shell are walls which define a water reservoir 7 provided at its forward end with a filling tube 8 which projects up into post 4 and is closed at its upper end by a flanged cover disk 9. In front wall 5 is a filling opening 10 which is connected to tube 8 by a filling sleeve 11.

On soleplate 1 are walls which define a steaming chamber 12 which is closed by a cover plate 13 having an opening over which is fastened a hood 14 provided with a reinforcing threaded collar 15 in which is supported a valve body 16. In valve body 16 is a valve orifice 17 and passages 18 through which water may flow from reservoir 7 to steaming chamber 12. Valve orifice 17 is opened and closed by a tapered end on the lower end of a valve stem 29 which seats against a valve seat 200 on valve body 16. On the lower end of stem is a pin 19 which slides through orifice 17 to keep the orifice clean and open. When the flatiron is used for dry ironing, valve stem 20 is positioned to bring its lower end against seat 20a to prevent flow of water from reservoir 7 to steaming chamber 12; when it is used for steam ironing, valve stem 20 is moved to uncover orifice 17. On soleplate 1 is a bracket 21 having an opening in which is rotatably mounted a thermostat setting cam disk 22 held on the bracket by an eyelet 23 which is positioned in the opening. Engaging the periphery of cam disk 22 is a thermostat adjusting arm 2,755,574 Patented July 24, 1956 "ice 24. The thermostat structure is not illustrated since its specific structure forms no part of the present invention. Any suitable structure may be utilized.

The structure so far described is a known one and is to be taken as typical of any suitable dry and steam flatiron arrangement. For example, the steaming chamber arrangement may be similar to that disclosed in the Finlayson Patent No. 2,557,732, patented June 19, 1951, and the thermostat and handle arrangement may be similar to that disclosed in the Finlayson Patent No. 2,602,248, patented July 8, 1952, both assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. My invention has to do with the construction and arrangement of the control means for adjusting thermostat setting cam disk 22 and moving valve stem 20 between closed and open positions.

For turning cam disk 22 there is provided a control shaft 25 which at its lower end is connected to the disk by suitable means, that shown comprising a tongue 26 on the lower end of the shaft which is positioned in the hole of eyelet 23 and an arm 27 having an end positioned in a notch in the edge of the disk which provides means for turning the cam disk. Control shaft 25 extends up through a duct across reservoir 7 formed by a tube 28 to a position where its upper end 29 is adjacent to top wall 6 of the tubular handle post. End 29 is in the form of a flat head. Connected to end 29 is a thermostat control lever 30 having at its outer end an operating knob 31. At its inner end lever 30 (Fig. 6) is shaped to provide a flat circular boss 32 surrounded by a flange 33 and in boss 32 is a slot 34 in which end 29 of the control shaft is positioned to form the connection between the control lever and the control shaft. Control lever 30 extends through a transverse slot 35 in handle post front wall 5. Slot 35 is of a depth, as shown in Fig. 3, such that its end walls 36 and 37 are spaced apalt a distance which permits control lever 30 to move over an arc of approximately dgrees. In slot 35 above lever 30 is a temperature indicating dial plate 38 which rests against the top wall of the slot and against end walls 36 and 37. It is provided with a lug 39 positioned behind front Wall 5 for holding it in place. At its inner end dial plate 38 has walls which define an opening 40 in which boss 32 is located with flange 33 in engagement with the underside of the dial plate. This serves to pivot the inner end of control lever 30 on the dial plate. Dial plate 35 is held against the top wall of slot 35 and control lever 30 is held in frictional engagement with the underside of dial plate 38 by a spring plate 41 of the contour shown in Fig. 5, it having an upturned flange 42 which fits inside boss 32 (Fig. 2) and an angularly projecting downturned peripheral flange 43 which engages the bottom wall of slot 35. When lever 30 is turned in slot 35, shaft 25 is turned to adjust the flatiron thermostat.

Valve stem 20 projects up through filling tube 8 to a position beyond cover disk 9 and has on its end a washer 44 between which and the cover disk is a coiled spring 45 which serves to bias the valve stem to a position as shown in Fig. l where both the valve stem end and valve pin 19 are located above orifice 17. In other words, the spring biases the valve to open position. A washer 44', of a silicone or other suitable material, is positioned imrnediately between the lower end of the spring 45 and the cover disk 9 to seal the opening in the cover disk around the valve stem 20. Washer 44 is loose on stem 20 so it can slide axially thereon and it is held on the stem by a retaining ring 46 fixed on the end of the stern.

For moving the valve stem to close the valve against the biasing action of spring 45 there is provided a yoke or U-shaped bracket 47 (Fig. 4) comprising a lower arm 48 and an upper arm 49 connected by a back wall 50. Lower arm 48 has an opening 51 through which control shaft 25 extends, and a boss 52 which engages the top of washer 44, there being a notch 53 in the boss through which stem 20 extends. Yoke arm 48 is connected to valve stem 20 to move it through the intermediary of a second coiled spring 54 which closely surrounds the stem and is located between the underside of washer 44 and a washer 55 held on stem 20 by a snap retaining ring 56.- Thus, when the yoke is pused down from its valve open Fig. 1 position, it presses down on spring 54 and through it moves the valve stem down, at the same time compressing spring 45. After the valve is seated, spring 54 holds it yieldingly on its seat and provides for lost motion between the yoke arm and the valve stem. The positions of the springs and yoke when the valve is seated is shown in Fig. 2. When downward pressure on the yoke is released, springs 45 and 54 move the yoke upward, first bringing Washer 44 into engagement with retaining ring 46 and then positively lifting the valve stem.

Upper yoke arm 49 extends across the underside of top wall 6 and fixed on the yoke arm is an operating knob 57 which projects out through an opening 58 in top wall 6. In the valve open position as shown in Fig. 1, knob 57 is held against the rear upper edge of opening 58 which forms a stop for limiting upward movement of the yoke. The free end of yoke arm 49 projects beyond the front edge of knob 57 to form a catch lip 59 which when the valve is moved to closed position, may be positioned under a ledge 60 as shown in Fig. 2. To permit of this, opening 58 has a length greater than the corresponding dimension of knob 57 so that the knob can have a limited forward and back movement in the opening, the movement being sufficient to enable lip 59 to be moved under and from under ledge 60. To move the valve from open position as shown in Fig. 1 to closed position, it is necessary for the operator merely to press down on knob 57 to bring lip 59 below the plane of ledge 60 and then move the knob forward to bring the lip under the ledge. The provision of spring 54 on stem 20 through which the yoke moves the valve stem and valve pin provides a liberal amount of lost motion so that the lip may be moved beyond the ledge, slid under it, and then the knob released to permit the yoke to move upward to bring the lip into engagement with the ledge.

It will be further apparent that the provision of the yoke 47 as a connection between the knob 57 and the valve stem 20 allows for the necessary forward motion of the knob 57 for latching purposes while at the same time minimizing the problem of sealing the opening in the cover disk 9 at the top of the filling tube 8. By reference to the drawing, it can be seen that the yoke 47 readily rocks about the valve stem 20, utilizing the springs 45 and 54, during the aforementioned forward movement without necessitating any corresponding; rocking or forward motion of the valve stem 20. Accordingly, the opening in the cover disk 9 for the valve stem 20 can be made closely approximating the diameter of the valve stem itself. Sealing of the cover disk 9 at this opening is therefore easily accomplished by means of the silicone washer 44' which is urged against the top of the cover disk by the spring 45.

Dial plate 38 is provided on its outer edge with suitable indicia as shown in Fig. 3 for guiding the user in setting thermostat control lever 30 for the correct temperature for dilferent types of dry ironing, and in setting it for the correct temperature for steam ironing. And in this connection I may provide interlocking means between the lever 30 and the yoke 47 whereby the yoke can be moved to open the water valve only when control lever 30 is set at the correct temperature for steam ironing. To this end, there is provided in control lever flange 33 a notch 61 which, when the control lever is correctly positioned for steam ironing, stands in alignment with a lug 62 on yoke back wall 50 and with a notch 63 in the inner end of dial plate 38. Lug 62 is shown as being formed as a tongue struck from the. material of wall 50, and is so located on wall 50 that when the valve is closed,

its upper end stands below flange 33 as shown in Fig. 2; From this, it is clear that the valve can be opened only when notch 61 is in alignment with lug 62, this being the correct setting of the control lever for steam ironing. Also, the arrangement is such that when the valve is open, control lever 30 is locked in the correct position for steam ironing. To accomplish this result, lug 62 is made sufiiciently long that when the valve is in open position, the lower portion of the lug stands in the notch, as shown in Fig. 1, thus locking the control lever against movement.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modification of my invention wherein the lower arm of the yoke or U-shaped bracket, corresponding to arm 48 of the Figs. 1 to 6 construction is in the form of a spring arm, the end of which engages directly the upper end of valve stem 71 which corresponds to valve stem 20 of the Figs. 1 to 6 construction. As shown in Fig. 7 the upper end of the valve stem 71 is curved or rounded and the lower arm 70 of the yoke includes a correspondingly shaped semicircular depression, indicated at 72, which cooperates with the upper rounded end of the valve stem 71 to provide easy rocking motion of the yoke on the valve stem. Otherwise the Fig. 7 construction may be similar to that of Figs. 1 to 6 and corresponding reference numerals with the exponent (1 added have been applied to corresponding parts. In this modification it will be seen that from the Figs. 1 to 6 construction the spring 54 and the slot 53 in the bracket arm have been eliminated, the bracket itself performing the function of spring 54 in that it has sufficient resiliency to take care of variations in manufacture and to provide for the latching of the button 57a.

As in the case of the form previously described, it will be apparent that the utilization of the yoke between the knob 57a and the valve stem 71 allows for the necessary forward motion of the knob 57a for latching the valve in its off position while at the same time eliminating any necessity for providing an opening in the cover disk of a diameter substantially in excess of that of the valve stem 71 to allow for corresponding forward motion or rocking of the valve stem 71. It will be seen that the yoke readily pivots or rocks about the upper end of the valve stem 71 during the aforementioned latching movement of the knob 57a without necessitating any corresponding forward movement or rocking of the valve stem 71. Accordingly, the opening in the cover disk at the top of the filling tube may be made of a diameter closely approximating that of the valve stem 71 and this opening is then easily sealed by a washer 44a, of a silicone or other suitable material, positioned between the cover disk and the lower end of the spring 45a. As in the form previously described the washer 44a is urged into sealing engagement with the cover disk 9a by a spring 450, the upper end of which engages a retaining ring 46a.

By my invention, I provide control means for combi nation dry and steam flatirons wherein both control members have their operating knobs located at the front of the flatiron handle adjacent the upper end thereof. This is an advantageous location for the user as it is one wherein the control members are easily visible and handy and convenient for operation, and one wherein the control members are spaced well away from the heated portions of the flatiron so they remain relatively cool and can be moved without danger of accidentally touching highly heated parts of the flatiron. At the same time it provides an overall construction which is simple in structure, reliable in operation, and capable of being manufactured and assembled at low cost. Also, it provides an arrangement which enables the flatiron to be styled to give a pleasing appearance.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having a tubular front post attached to the body, said tubular post including a top wall and a front wall, a temperature adjusting member in the body, a water control valve in the body, a control shaft for said member which at its lower end is connected to the member and projects up through said tubular post to a position adjacent to the upper end of said tubular post, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects up into said tubular post, a temperature adjusting control lever for turning the control shaft which at its inner end is connected to the upper end of the control shaft and projects out through an opening in the front wall of said tubular post directly adjacent to its upper end, and means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke including an arm connected to the knob and an arm connected to said valve stem, said second mentioned arm including an aperture through which said temperature control shaft extends, spring means biasing said valve toward one position, means carried by the yoke adapted to engage a wall of said tubular post for locking the valve in another position, and interlocking means between said control lever and said yoke which permits of opening movement of said valve only when the control lever is set for the correct steam ironing temperature.

2. A combination dry and steam flatiron as defined by claim 1 wherein said interlocking means when the control lever is set for correct steam ironing temperature locks it in such set position when the water control valve is open.

3. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having a tubular front post attached to the body, said tubular post including a top wall and a front wall, a temperature adjusting member in the body, a water control valve in the body, a control shaft for said member which at its lower end is connected to the member and projects up. through said tubular post to a position adjacent to the upper end of said tubular post, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects up into said tubular post, a temperature adjusting control means for turning the control shaft which at its inner end is connected to the upper end of the control shaft and projects out through an opening in the front wall of said tubular post, and means for moving said valve stem toregulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke having an arm connected to the knob and an arm connected to said valve stem, spring means biasing said valve toward one position, means carried by the yoke adapted to engage a wall of said tubular post for locking the valve in another position, and interlocking means between said control lever and said yoke which permits of opening movement of said valve only when the control lever is set for the correct steam ironing temperature, said interlocking means comprising on the control lever and yoke lug and slot means which are in alignment when the control lever is set for the correct steam ironing temperature.

4. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having a tubular front post attached to the body, said tubular post including a top wall and a front wall, a temperature adjusting member in the body, a water control valve in the body, a control shaft for said member which at its lower end is connected to the member and projects up through said tubular post to a position adjacent to the upper end of said tubular post, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects up into said tubular post, a temperature adjusting control means for turning the control shaft which at its inner end is connected to the upper end of the control shaft and projects out through an opening in the front wall of said tubular post, and means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke having an arm connected to the knob and an arm connected to said valve stem, spring means biasing said valve toward one position, means carried by the yoke adapted to engage a wall of said tubular post for locking the valve in another position, and interlocking means between said control lever and said yoke which permits of opening movement of said valve only when the control lever is set for the correct steam ironingtemperature, said interlocking means comprising on the control lever and yoke lug and slot means wherein the lug and slot are in alignment when the control lever is set for the correct steam ironing temperature and wherein the lug is positioned in the slot when the water valve is in open position.

5. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having tubular front post attached to the body, said tubular post including a top wall and a front wall, a temperature adjusting member in the body, a water control valve in the body, a control shaft for said member which at its lower end is connected to the member and projects up through said tubular post to a position adjacent to the upper end of said tubular post, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects up into said tubular post, a temperature adjusting control means for turning the control shaft which at its inner end is connected to the upper end of the control shaft and projects out through an opening in the front wall of said tubular post, and means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke having an arm connected to said knob and an arm connected to said valve stem, said last-named connection comprising a retainer ring fixed on the end of the valve stem, a washer slidable on the stem beneath said retainer ring on which said second-named yoke arm rests, spring means biasing the washer into engagement with said second-named yoke arm, and spring means through which the washer is connected to said stem.

6. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having a tubular front post attached to the body, a reservoir within said body including a filling tube ex tending upwardly into said tubular front post, a cover disk closing the upper end of said filling tube, a water control valve in the body, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects through said filling tube and into said tubular post, said cover disk including an opening for passage of said valve stem therethrough, the diameter of said opening being only slightly larger than that of said valve stem, means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in the opening in the top Wall of said tubular post, a yoke having an arm connected to said knob and a second arm cooperating with said valve stem, spring means biasing said valve toward one position, said yoke including a portion adapted to engage a wall of said tubular post for locking the valve in another position, engagement of said portion of said yoke and said wall of said tubular post being effected by a forward movement of said knob, said yoke providing a connection between said knob and said valve stem which affords forward movement of said knob without requiring corresponding forward movement of said valve stem whereby operation of said valve stem is afforded with a minimum of clearance between said valve stem and said opening in said cover disk and sealing of said opening is facilitated.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein a sealing washer surrounding said valve stem is provided adjacent the top surface of said cover disk and wherein said spring means engages said Washer for holding it in sealing engagement with said cover disk.

8. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body, a handle having a tubular front post attached to said body, a reservoir in said body having a filling tube extending upwardly into said tubular front post, a valve stem for said water control valve projecting upwardly through said filling tube and into said tubular front post, said filling tube including at its upper end a cover disk having an opening for affording passage of said valve stem, the diameter of said opening being only slightly larger than that of said valve stem, means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a U-shaped yoke having an upper arm connected to the knob and a lower arm adapted to cooperate with said valve stem, a retaining ring fixed on said valve stem, a washer positioned on said valve stem beneath said retaining ring, said washer being engaged by said lower yoke arm, a spring engaging said washer and biasing said washer into engagement with said lower yoke arm, a sealing washer surrounding said valve stem and resting on the top surface of said cover disk, the lower end of said spring engaging said washer to press it into engagement with said cover disk and seal said opening therein, a second retaining ring on said valve stem, a second spring surrounding said valve stem, the lower end of said second spring engaging said second retaining ring and the upper end of said second spring engaging said first-named washer to provide a lost motion connection between said yoke and said valve stem.

9. In a combination dry and steam flatiron, a body,

a handle having a tubular front post attached to the body,

a water control valve in the body, a valve stem for said water control valve which projects up into said tubular post, and means for moving said valve stem to regulate said valve comprising a knob positioned in an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke formed in a U-shape and including an upper horizontal arm connected to the knob and a lower horizontal arm cooperating with the valve stem, spring means biasing said valve toward one position, said yoke including a portion adapted to engage a wall of said tubular post for locating the valve in another position.

10. In a combination steam and dry iron, a body, a handle attached to said body and having a tubular front post, a water reservoir within said body and including a filling tube extending upwardly into said tubular post, a water control valve in said body, a valve stem for said valve extending upwardly through said filling tube, a cover to close the upper end of said filling tube with an opening to guide and receive slidably said valve stem, a valve stem control knob projecting through an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke having one arm connected to said knob and another arm positioned over the upper end of said valve stem, means biasing said valve stem upwardly into engagement with said other arm,

cooperating latch means between said yoke and tubular post engaged by lateral movement of said knob, said valve stem having a rounded upper end and said other arm having a correspondingly shaped depression therein for receiving said upper end of said valve stem with a lost motion connection permitting lateral movement of said knob and yoke to a latched position without a corresponding lateral movement of said valve stem.

11. In a combination steam and dry iron, a body, a handle attached to said body and having a tubular front post, a water reservoir within said body and including a filling tube extending upwardly into said tubular post, a water control valve in said body, a valve stem for said valve extending upwardly through said filling tube, a cover to close the upper end of said filling tube with an opening to guide and receive slidably said valve stem, a resilient sealing washer through which said stem extends positioned on said cover, a valve stem control knob projecting through an opening in the top wall of said tubular post, a yoke having one arm connected to said knob and and another arm positioned over the upper end of said valve stem, means biasing said valve stem upwardly into engagement with said other arm, said biasing means also exerting sealing pressure on said sealing washer, cooperating latch means between said yoke and tubular post engaged by lateral movement of said knob, said valve stem having a rounded upper end and said other arm having a correspondingly shaped depression therein for receiving said upper end of said valve stem with a lost motion connection permitting lateral movement of said knob and yoke to a latched position without a corresponding lateral movement of said valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,766,602 Clark June 24, 1930 2,337,077 Woodman Dec. 21, 1943 2,342,653 Edwards Feb. 29, 1944 2,342,716 Woodman Feb. 29, 1944 2,387,757 Hoecker Oct. 30, 1945 2,557,732 Finlayson June 19, 1951 2,602,248 Finlayson July 8, 1952 

